The first commercial flight of a Boeing Co. Dreamliner could take place in October, the 787’s launch customer, All Nippon Airways, said Monday.
The Japanese carrier expects Boeing to deliver its first 787 in September. That’s is in line with Boeing’s latest estimate that first delivery will take place in the third quarter. Boeing originally planned to deliver the first 787 in May 2008.
The airline will fly the Dreamliner roughly one month after receiving it. The carrier is arranging a international charter flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong.
The Dreamliner’s maiden flight “will be available to any customer who applies for the special package tour departing Tokyo which ANA is arranging,” the carrier said in a statement Monday.
The airline will also operate two “excursion” flights, that depart and land at Tokyo’s Narita airport and last about an hour each. Those flights will follow the Dreamliner’s inaugural flight to Hong Kong. Additional information on the 787’s initial flights will be available later on the airline’s 787 website: www.ana.co.jp/promotion/b787/en/.
Also on Monday, a report suggested Boeing will delay the first delivery of the next version of the Dreamliner, the 787-9, to 2014 from 2013. The West Australian newspaper noted that officials for both Air New Zealand and Qantas say they’ll receive their larger 787-9s later than expected. Boeing denied the report.
Boeing will deliver a 787-8 to ANA. That aircraft seats between 210 and 250 passengers. The stretched 787-9 seats 250 to 290.
The jet maker is in the quiet period, during which federal regulations prohibit the company from disclosing major changes, before reporting its quarterly earnings Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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